Dwell :: Home Decor Ideas That Welcome Summer

Décor Ideas for Summer:

Summer is finally around the corner, and what better way to celebrate the warmer weather than brightening up your home with some summery decorating ideas. While winter calls for darker, cozy tones, summer is a great excuse to add bright splashes and floral patterns to your home.

Changing your décor doesn’t necessarily mean doing a complete overhaul—these few small changes can make a big difference to a room. Here are a few simple ideas to welcome summer into your home.

Brighten Up Your Windows

When the sun is shining, you want to reflect that sunny glow inside your home. A great way of doing this is to make some simple, sheer valences or drapes for your windows. Valances and drapes can go over most blinds, including insulating, wooden and roller blinds. They not only transform your windows, but they help keep your house cooler as well.

You can find a simply valence pattern on the Better Homes and Gardens website that only requires curtain material and a piece of ribbon. Before choosing your material, think about your room—what colors have you already incorporated? What colors and patterns inspire you for a summer theme? Do some research by looking in decorating magazines and online, and visit craft stores to see what materials are available. You can also make matching pillows and throws for your lounge chairs with the same or similar-colored material.

Work With What You Have

Redecorating can be a costly exercise, and sometimes we buy new items when we already own something that would work just as well. When considering new items to add to a room, have a look at what you already own. Perhaps you have a vase in your bedroom that would go perfectly with your new color theme in the living room, or that chair in the study would look great in the corner of your bedroom. Experiment with furniture and decorative items that you already own before you visit any home stores, and you might be surprised at how much money you can save.

Do Your Research

Stay up to date with the latest trends by reading design magazines and follow the latest styles on websites like Pinterest.com. Pay a visit to a craft store to view their latest products. For 2013, Elle Décor is predicting trends in brass and green and wall embellishments such as bright floral wallpapers and glass beads. Once you have learned about the trends, take these ideas and find simple ways of incorporating them into your own home décor. Many craft and home décor websites suggest easy decorating ideas that you can use.

Remember, you don’t have to do everything. A few small changes can make a big difference to the overall look and feel of your home. This way, your house will be primed for summer and easy to redecorate when fall begins.

About the Author:

Amanda Kern is a part-time nurse and freelancer living in Chicago.

Photo courtesy of Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/mydecorative/8551114214/sizes/z/in/photostream/

Top photo courtesy of: www.garnethill.com